DAVAO CITY – Local government units in Region 11 have been given the discretion to create their own policies to stem the spread of Covid-19, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao said. DILG-Davao Director Alex Roldan said the government would no longer reimpose the strict Covid-19 measures at the height of the pandemic but local officials are encouraged to enforce some measures, including the use of face masks and physical distancing in crowded places, to abate the increasing number of cases in the region. Of the 358 active cases in the region as of April 10, 208 were reported in Davao City, 53 in Davao de Oro, 37 in Davao Oriental, 27 in Davao del Sur, 21 in Davao del Norte, and 12 in Davao Occidental, according to Department of Health-Davao. “Nakita nato ang negative effect sa economy when we strictly impalement some rules (We have seen the negative effect on our economy when we strictly implemented some rules),” Roldan said. He said the public are encouraged to get booster shots from the Department of Health. Roldan said the increase in Covid-19 cases reported by the DOH in the region is not alarming. In Davao City, Mayor Sebastian Duterte signed Executive Order 71 on Dec. 1 adopting Presidential Executive Order 7 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allowing voluntary wearing of face masks in “indoor and outdoor settings.” Under the order, optional or voluntary wearing of face masks does not cover healthcare facilities, including but not limited to, clinics, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, and dialysis centers; medical transport vehicles such as ambulance and paramedic rescue vehicles; and public transportation by land, air, or sea. Wearing of face masks are highly encouraged for elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, unvaccinated individuals, and symptomatic individuals. Section 3 of EO 71 states that the minimum public health standards “intended to effectively prevent and minimize the spread of Covid-19 in the city shall continue to be implemented consistent with the principles of shared accountability, evidence-based decision-making, socio-economic equity, and rights-based approach.” In a press release issued by the Davao City Information Office on Friday, April 14, CHO officer-in-charge Dr. Marjorie Culas said it is on alert for a possible post-Holy Week increase in Covid-19 cases as the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is currently on a 100 percent full-bed capacity status. "We are on alert. If hospital beds are full and cases are high, where would critical patients go? They would need to be admitted to receive immediate medical attention and high-tech facilities," Culas said. She said the active cases are mostly asymptomatic and mild. Culas said she will meet representatives of private hospitals on April 18 to discuss the possibility of adding more beds to cater to patients who contract the infection. She said Covid-19 vaccination is available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays at the People’s Park and every Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the People’s Park. She expressed  concern that some commuters are no longer wearing face masks on public utility vehicles.